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State Officers

V.S.A. tit. 32, ch. 15, subch. 1
in effect

32 V.S.A. § 1002 Salary of Governor-Elect

1002. Salary of Governor-Elect (a) The person receiving the major number of votes for Governor as determined by the certificates transmitted to the Secretary of State under provisions of 17 V.S.A. § 2592 shall be designated the Governor-Elect. (b) The Governor-Elect shall be entitled to receive a salary of 70 percent of the regular weekly salary of the Governor for the period before a new Governor qualifies for office. This amount shall be reduced by the amount the Governor-Elect receives from the State during this period for services performed in fulfilling the duties of any office to which he or she was elected or appointed. Added 1963, No. 121; amended 1987, No. 121, § 1; 2011, No. 3, § 91, eff. Feb. 17, 2011; 2015, No. 58, § B.1109.

32 V.S.A. § 1003 State officers

1003. State officers (a) Each elective officer of the Executive Department is entitled to an annual salary as follows: Annual | Annual | Annual Salary | Salary | Salary as of | as of | as of July 12, 2026 | January 10, 2027 | July 11, 2027 (1) Governor | $243,520 | $248,390 | $260,561 (2) Lieutenant Governor | $103,369 | $105,436 | $110,602 (3) Secretary of State | $154,413 | $157,501 | $165,219 (4) State Treasurer | $154,413 | $157,501 | $165,219 (5) Auditor of Accounts | $154,413 | $157,501 | $165,219 (6) Attorney General | $184,894 | $188,592 | $197,833 (b) The Governor may appoint each officer of the Executive Branch listed in this subsection at a starting salary ranging from the base salary stated for that position to a salary that does not exceed the maximum salary unless otherwise authorized by this subsection. The maximum salary for each appointive officer shall be 50 percent above the base salary. Annually, the Governor may grant to each of those officers an annual salary adjustment subject to the maximum salary. The annual salary adjustment granted to officers under this subsection shall not exceed the average rate of adjustment available to most classified employees under the collective bargaining agreement then in effect. In addition to the annual salary adjustment specified in this subsection, the Governor may grant a special salary increase subject to the maximum salary, or a bonus, to any officer listed in this subsection whose job duties have significantly increased, or whose contributions to the State in the preceding year are deemed especially significant. Special salary increases or bonuses granted to any individual shall not exceed the average rate of adjustment available to most classified employees under the collective bargaining agreement then in effect. (1) Heads of the following Departments and Agencies: Base | Base | Base Salary | Salary | Salary as of | as of | as of July 12, | January 10, | July 11, 2026 | 2027 | 2027 (A) Administration | $147,254 | $150,199 | $157,559 (B) Agriculture, Food and Markets | $147,254 | $150,199 | $157,559 (C) Financial Regulation | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (D) Buildings and General Services | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (E) Children and Families | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (F) Commerce and Community Development | $147,254 | $150,199 | $157,559 (G) Corrections | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (H) Defender General | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (I) Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (J) Economic Development | $124,876 | $127,374 | $133,615 (K) Education | $147,254 | $150,199 | $157,559 (L) Environmental Conservation | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (M) Finance and Management | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (N) Fish and Wildlife | $124,876 | $127,374 | $133,615 (O) Forests, Parks and Recreation | $124,876 | $127,374 | $133,615 (P) Health | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (Q) Housing and Community Development | $124,876 | $127,374 | $133,615 (R) Human Resources | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (S) Human Services | $147,254 | $150,199 | $157,559 (T) Digital Services | $147,254 | $150,199 | $157,559 (U) Labor | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (V) Libraries | $124,876 | $127,374 | $133,615 (W) Liquor and Lottery | $124,876 | $127,374 | $133,615 (X) [Repealed.] (Y) Mental Health | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (Z) Military | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (AA) Motor Vehicles | $124,876 | $127,374 | $133,615 (BB) Natural Resources | $147,254 | $150,199 | $157,559 (CC) Land Use Review Board Chair | $124,876 | $127,374 | $133,615 (DD) Public Safety | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (EE) Public Service | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (FF) Taxes | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (GG) Tourism and Marketing | $124,876 | $127,374 | $133,615 (HH) Transportation | $147,254 | $150,199 | $157,559 (II) Vermont Health Access | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (JJ) Veterans’ Home | $137,661 | $140,414 | $147,294 (2) [Repealed.] (3) If the Chair of the Land Use Review Board is employed on less than a full-time basis, the hiring and salary maximums for that position shall be reduced proportionately. (4) When a permanent employee is appointed to an exempt position, the Governor may authorize such employee to retain the present salary even though it is in excess of any salary maximum provided in statute. (c) The officers of the Judicial Branch named in this subsection shall be entitled to annual salaries as follows: Annual | Annual | Annual Salary | Salary | Salary as of | as of | as of July 12, | January 10, | July 11, 2026 | 2027 | 2027 (1) Chief Justice of Supreme Court | $234,379 | $239,067 | $250,781 (2) Each Associate Justice | $223,690 | $228,164 | $239,344 (3) Chief Superior Judge | $223,690 | $228,164 | $239,344 (4) Each Superior Judge | $212,653 | $216,906 | $227,534 (5) [Repealed.] (6) Each Magistrate | $160,337 | $163,544 | $171,558 (7) Each Judicial Bureau hearing officer | $160,337 | $163,544 | $171,558 (d) Notwithstanding the maximum salary established in subsection (b) of this section, the Defender General shall not receive compensation in excess of the compensation established for the Attorney General in this section. (e) Notwithstanding the maximum salary established in subsection (b) of this section, the maximum salary for the Commissioner of Health shall not exceed 100 percent above the base salary for this position. Added 1965, No. 125, § 1, eff. July 2, 1965; amended 1966, No. 53 (Sp. Sess.), § 1, eff. Jan. 5, 1966; 1967, No. 126, § 1, No. 200, § 1, eff. July 1, 1967, § 9, eff. Jan. 1, 1967; 1969, No. 294 (Adj. Sess.), Pt. IV, § 9, eff. at beginning of respective elective terms in 1971, Pt. V, § 10, eff. April 15, 1970; 1971, No. 191 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 14, 16; 1971, No. 242 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1973, No. 117, §§ 1, 2; 1973, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. March 15, 1974; 1973, No. 266 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 18, 19, eff. July 1, 1974; 1975, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 27, eff. Oct. 22, 1975; 1975, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1975, No. 206 (Adj. Sess.), § 1a; 1977, No. 105, § 19, eff. July 1, 1977; 1977, No. 109, § 15, eff. July 3, 1977; 1977, No. 204 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1977, No. 222 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. July 2, 1978, and Jan. 4, 1979; 1977, No. 232 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1979, No. 59, § 2, eff. July 1, 1979; 1979, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 10; 1981, No. 91, § 7, eff. July 5, 1981; § 13, eff. upon taking the oath of office in Jan. 1983; § 14, eff. July 5, 1981; 1981, No. 249 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 8, 8a-8c; 1983, No. 88, § 2, eff. July 3, 1983; 1983, No. 95, § 308; 1983, No. 130 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 13, 1984; 1983, No. 170 (Adj. Sess.), § 14(b), eff. April 19, 1984; 1983, No. 195 (Adj. Sess.), § 5(a); 1983, No. 243 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 2, 3, 5, 20; 1985, No. 93, §§ 1, 2; 1985, No. 225 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 2, 3, 4, 21; 1987, No. 76, § 18; 1987, No. 121, §§ 2, 3; 1987, No. 183 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 3, 4, 7; 1989, No. 67, §§ 1, 1a, 3; 1989, No. 187 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 1989, No. 219 (Adj. Sess.), § 9(a); 1989, No. 225 (Adj. Sess.), § 25(a); 1989, No. 250 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1989, No. 256 (Adj. Sess.), § 10(a), eff. Jan. 1, 1991; 1989, No. 277 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 2, 3, 5, eff. July 8, 1990; 1991, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 2, 5, eff. May 19, 1992; 1993, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 1-3; 1995, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 16, 17, eff. May 6, 1996; 1995, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1995, No. 177 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1995, No. 180 (Adj. Sess.), § 38; 1995, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 1, 11; 1997, No. 28, § 1, eff. May 15, 1997; 1997, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 30; 1999, No. 40, § 1, eff. July 4, 1999; 1999, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2001, No. 66, § 1; 2003, No. 66, § 315; 2003, No. 115 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 116, 117, eff. Jan. 31, 2005; 2003, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 1-3, eff. July 11, 2004; 2005, No. 66, § 1; 2007, No. 47, § 1; 2007, No. 65, § 116; 2007, No. 206 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2011, No. 130 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 4, 5; 2013, No. 50, § E.802.1; 2013, No. 56, § 14, retroactively eff. Jan. 2, 2013; 2013, No. 160 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 3, 4; 2015, No. 58, § B.1110, eff. June 11, 2015; 2015, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § F3; 2015, No. 172 (Adj. Sess.), § F4; 2017, No. 191 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 3, 5; 2017, No. 191 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 4, 8, eff. July 1, 2019; 2019, No. 73, § 42; 2021, No. 74, §§ F.104, F.105; 2021, No. 185 (Adj. Sess.), §§ F.103, F.104, eff. July 1, 2022; 2023, No. 6, § 372, eff. July 1, 2023; 2023, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), §§ G.103, G.104, eff. July 1, 2024; 2025, No. 64, § 19, eff. June 12, 2025; 2025, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), §§ F.103, F.104, eff. July 1, 2026.

32 V.S.A. § 1006 Executive clerk and Executive messenger

1006. Executive clerk and Executive messenger The Executive clerk shall be paid weekly compensation and expenses at the rates allowed to members of the General Assembly during a session of the General Assembly, such compensation and expenses to be paid from the appropriation for the Executive Office of the Governor; and the Executive messenger shall be paid the same compensation and reimbursement for expenses as pages of the General Assembly under 2 V.S.A. § 64, such compensation and expenses to be paid out of the appropriation for legislative expenses. Amended 1963, No. 115, § 1, eff. April 3, 1963; 1966, No. 53 (Sp. Sess.), § 3, eff. Jan. 5, 1966; 1973, No. 117, § 18, eff. retroactively from Jan. 1, 1973; 1979, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1981, No. 91, § 4, eff. July 5, 1981; 1981, No. 249 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. July 4, 1982.

32 V.S.A. § 1007 Lieutenant Governor

1007. Lieutenant Governor (a) The Lieutenant Governor shall be paid his or her expenses when away from Montpelier or his or her home in the interest of the State. (b) During any session of the General Assembly, the Lieutenant Governor is entitled to receive the same expenses authorized for members of the General Assembly by subsection 1052(b) of this title. Amended 1961, No. 285, § 3; 1969, No. 86, § 2.

32 V.S.A. § 1010 Members of certain boards

1010. Members of certain boards (a) Except for those members serving ex officio or otherwise regularly employed by the State, the members of the following boards shall be entitled to receive per diem compensation: (1) Board of Bar Examiners (2) Board of Libraries (3) Vermont Milk Commission (4) Board of Education (5) [Repealed.] (6) Emergency Board (7) Board of Liquor and Lottery (8) Human Services Board (9) State Fish and Wildlife Board (10) State Board of Mental Health (11) Vermont Employment Security Board (12) Capitol Complex Commission (13) Natural Gas and Oil Resources Board (14) Transportation Board (15) Vermont Veterans’ Home Board of Trustees (16) Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (17) The Electricians’ Licensing Board (18) [Repealed.] (19) Emergency Personnel Survivors Benefit Review Board (20) Community High School of Vermont Board (21) Parole Board (b)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, members of professional or occupational licensing boards or commissions, advisory boards or commissions, appeals boards, promotional boards, interstate boards, supervisory boards and councils, or any other boards, commissions, or similar entities that are not listed in subsection (a) of this section but are otherwise entitled by act of the General Assembly to receive per diem compensation shall be entitled to receive per diem compensation for each day devoted to official duties. (2) “Per diem” means the amount of compensation to which a member of a statutory board or commission is entitled for: (A) attendance at a regular or special meeting of such board or commission or any committee thereof; or (B) performance of other duties directly related to the efficient conduct of necessary board business as assigned and approved by the chairperson, provided that payment for such duties shall be at the per diem rate prorated for actual time spent performing duties. Proration shall be calculated based on an eight-hour day. Under no circumstances shall the daily payment exceed the per diem amount. (c) The members of the boards and commissions, including those members serving ex officio or otherwise regularly employed by the State, shall be entitled to receive their actual and necessary expenses when away from home or office upon their official duties. (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, a member shall not be entitled to receive State per diem compensation for any meeting or other official duty for which specific compensation is provided by another source. (e) Per diem compensation authorized under this section for members of boards, commissions, councils, and committees and all other management, policymaking, or advisory bodies, including temporary study commissions, of the Executive Branch, whether appointed by the Governor or not, shall be not less than $50.00 per day and shall be approved pursuant to this subsection. (1) The annual budget report of the Governor submitted to the General Assembly as required by section 306 of this title shall contain a separate schedule, by entity, that provides the per diem compensation rate established for the current fiscal year and the per diem rate proposed for the next fiscal year of any per diem that will be increased from its current fiscal year rate. This schedule shall also provide, by entity, the total per diem amounts paid and total expenses reimbursed for all members of the entity in the most recently ended fiscal year. Prior to submitting this schedule, the Governor shall consult with each elective officer or State officer who administers per diems that are not funded by the General Fund. (2) In the annual budget documentation submitted to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, any agency or department that administers funds for a board, commission, council, and committee and all other management, policymaking, or advisory bodies, including temporary study commissions, shall provide a list of the entities and the current and projected per diem rate and expense reimbursement for each entity. The agency or department shall include within its annual budget documentation the justification for any current or projected per diem rate that is greater than $50.00, including the justification for authorizing a per diem rate of greater than $50.00 for a board, commission, council, or committee created by executive order pursuant to subsection (g) of this section. (f) [Repealed.] (g) The Governor may authorize per diem compensation and expense reimbursement in accordance with this section for members of boards, commissions, councils, and committees and all other management, policymaking, or advisory bodies, including temporary study commissions, created by executive order. Per diems and expense reimbursement authorized under this subsection shall be effective as of the effective date of the executive order but shall subsequently be reviewed and approved pursuant to the approval process of subsection (e) of this section during the next budgetary cycle. Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 19(b), 22, 42, 46(b), eff. March 1, 1961; 1963, No. 193, § 16, eff. June 28, 1963; 1964, No. 22 (Sp. Sess.), § 1, retroactive to July 1, 1963; 1967, No. 115; 1967, No. 319 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 4, 5, eff. March 22, 1968; 1969, No. 226 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 31, 1970; 1973, No. 101, § 1; 1973, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. March 15, 1974; 1973, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1973, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1973, No. 266 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 17, 27, eff. July 1, 1974; 1981, No. 91, § 24, eff. July 5, 1981; 1981, No. 240 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. April 28, 1982; 1981, No. 249 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. May 4, 1982; 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 13, 1984; 1983, No. 188 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 1983, No. 230 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1985, No. 6, § 3; 1985, No. 242 (Adj. Sess.), § 313b; 1985, No. 245 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1985, No. 248 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1985, No. 249 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1985, No. 257 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1987, No. 94, §§ 1, 2; 1987, No. 96, § 20; 1987, No. 121, § 19; 1987, No. 183 (Adj. Sess.), § 17, eff. May 7, 1988; 1987, No. 229 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1987, No. 243 (Adj. Sess.), § 64, eff. June 13, 1988; 1987, No. 274 (Adj. Sess.), § 23; 1989, No. 253 (Adj. Sess.), § 17; 1989, No. 264 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1989, No. 288 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1991, 1989, No. 17, § 8(a), eff. April 4, 1991; 1991, No. 236 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 1993, No. 201 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1995, No. 79 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1997, No. 40, § 75; 1997, No. 66 (Adj. Sess.), § 67b, eff. Feb. 20, 1998; 1997, No. 145 (Adj. Sess.), § 30; 1999, No. 49, §§ 51(a), (b); 2001, No. 119 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 2001, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), § 37, eff. June 21, 2002; 2003, No. 122 (Adj. Sess.), § 78b; 2005, No. 63, § 12; 2009, No. 135 (Adj. Sess.), § 25; 2011, No. 139 (Adj. Sess.), § 34, eff. May 14, 2012; 2013, No. 34, § 22; 2018, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 107; 2019, No. 61, § 4; 2019, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 12; 2021, No. 134 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. July 1, 2023; 2023, No. 53, § 128, eff. June 8, 2023.

32 V.S.A. § 1012 Public Utility Commission

1012. Public Utility Commission The Chair of the Public Utility Commission shall be entitled to an annual salary that is the same annual salary to which each Superior Court judge is entitled. The other members of the Public Utility Commission, each of whom shall serve on a part-time basis, shall be entitled to an annual salary equal to two-thirds of the annual salary to which the Chair is entitled. The annual salary of the clerk of the Commission shall be fixed by the Commission with the approval of the Governor. Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 39, eff. March 1, 1961; 1967, No. 206, eff. April 27, 1967; 1969, No. 303 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 10, 1970; 1973, No. 247 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1977, No. 222 (Adj. Sess.), § 14, eff. July 2, 1978; 1979, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 17; 1979, No. 204 (Adj. Sess.), § 33, eff. Feb. 1, 1981; 1987, No. 121, § 18; 1995, No. 182 (Adj. Sess.), § 26, eff. May 22, 1996; 1995, No. 182 (Adj. Sess.), § 26a, eff. July 1, 1998; 2015, No. 58, § B.1111, eff. June 11, 2015.

32 V.S.A. § 1018 Chair and Executive Secretary of Transportation Board

1018. Chair and Executive Secretary of Transportation Board (a) The annual salary of the Chair of the Transportation Board shall be fixed by the Governor. (b) The Transportation Board shall have the authority to hire an Executive Secretary to the Board, who shall be an exempt employee. The annual salary of the Executive Secretary shall be fixed by the Board with the approval of the Governor. Added 1975, No. 120, § 2, eff. date set out in note below; amended 1977, No. 263 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. April 19, 1978.

32 V.S.A. § 1020 Salary adjustment; approval of Governor

1020. Salary adjustment; approval of Governor (a) Compensation to be paid any officer or employee within the Executive Branch of State government shall be determined at the time the officer or employee is hired by the Governor or such person as the Governor shall designate, subject to any applicable statutory limits, other than: (1) an employee in the classified service; (2) a member of the uniformed State Police within the Department of Public Safety; or (3) an officer or employee whose compensation is specifically fixed by statute. (b)(1) Annually, subject to any applicable statutory salary limits, the Governor may grant annual salary adjustments to exempt employees who are deputies or executive assistants to department heads or are deputies or executive assistants to agency secretaries. The annual salary adjustment granted to any officer under this subsection shall not exceed the average rate of adjustment available to classified employees under the collective bargaining agreement then in effect. (2) In addition to the annual salary adjustment specified in this subsection, the Governor may grant a special salary increase or a bonus to any such officer whose job duties have significantly increased, or whose contributions to the State in the preceding year are deemed especially significant. Special salary increases or bonuses granted to any individual shall not exceed the average rate of adjustment available to classified employees under the collective bargaining agreement then in effect. (c)(1) The Governor may establish one or more compensation plans for other exempt employees that provide for adjustments in salary based on changes in the duties performed, seniority, or other objective factors that the Governor finds to be appropriate. (2) The Governor may extend to such employees any adjustments to compensation not to exceed those available to classified employees provided under the collective bargaining agreement then in effect. Added 1969, No. 294 (Adj. Sess.), § 20, eff. April 9, 1970; amended 1971, No. 191 (Adj. Sess.), § 15; 1973, No. 106, § 9, eff. 30 days from April 25, 1973; 1975, No. 1 (Sp. Sess.), § 28, eff. Oct. 22, 1975; 1975, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1979, No. 59, § 9, eff. July 1, 1979; 1985, No. 225 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 1993, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 18; 2021, No. 74, § F.103.
Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/32/015Fetched: 10/21/2026

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